Chicken-culture apparatus.



PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

V. G. KOONS. CHICKEN CULTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1907.

4 SHEETU-SHEET 1.

5 vwa "for wi l" coma PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

V. 0. KOONS. CHICKEN CULTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1907.

4 SHEETS--SHBET 2.

witnesses PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

V. G. KOONS. CHICKEN CULTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' Suva 101,

W; M omen PATENTED JULY 21, 1908.

V. G. KOONS. CHICKEN GULTURE'APPARATUSr APPLICATION TILED JUNE 26, 1907.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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40 .taken on the line 7-7, Fig. 3. Fig. 8, is a section taken entire line 88, Fig. 4.

on-ire]; sTArns rnnr onricni MANUFAGTURING COMPANY, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF f-ooiionhno'; y

'- No. eea'za'z.

CHICKEN-CULTURE APPARii'rUs. 1

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented July 21, 1908" Applicationfiled. 11111626, 190?. Serial K053110366.

To all whom it may concern:

. stood by those skilled in the hit in the light Be it known that I, VIRGIL O. Know, a citizen of theUnitedStates, residing at Colorado i Springs, El Paso county, Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Qhicken-Culture Apparatus;

if and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains-to make and use the same. r This invention relates to certain improve ments in chicken culture apparatus, and more particularly relates to improvements'in chicken brooders; and the objects and na-;

ture of my invention will be readily underof the following explanation of the construction shown in the accompanying drawings as my referred embodiment from among other structures with n the spirit and scope of my invention.-

The invention consists in certain novel-features in construction .of parts and details and in arrangements and combinations of elements as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

' Referring to the accom anying drawings:Fi'gure 1, is a vertica cross sectional view through a stationary or-colony brooder,

dotted lines showing the cover'screens for the inside runwa s in raised position. Fig. 2, is a horizonta section on the line 22 Fig. *1. Fig. 3, is a cross sectional viewon an enlarged scale. Fig. 4, is a cross section,

showing a 'modified arrangement, the wall carrying the heating flues being shown swung outwardly. Fig. 5, is a section taken on the line'55, Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is a section'taken on the line 6-6, Fig.3. Fig. 7, is a section 1 Inthe s ecific example illustrated, I show each other when the chicks arrive at such age as to permit intermingling of the diflerent broods.

i. The brooder shown can be used as a stationary brooder and located in a suitable building on the floor or which the chicks can run from each brooder apartment. When the'brooder is thus employedas a stationary In the specific example illustrated, I show i a removab e brooder capable of being moved from the building and placed out of doors, and when so-used, I preferably provide a removable roof, cap or cover for the brooder,

to protect the. brooder a artments from the direct rays of the sun an from the cold and weather.

,VIRGIL o. irooNs, or" COLORADO srniii-es, QOLORADO,'ASSIGNOR fro THE CONTINENTAL In the drawings, ll show the brooder removably resting on the ground oron the floor. of a building, with its rear wall adjacent to a depressed alley or passage way 1', in

which the operator can freely move when inspeotingbrooder and chicks and attending to theheating apparatus, etc.

, The brooder is suitably constructed with a strong framework secured to and risingfrom a horizontal main floor 2, preferably extending throughout the length andwidth of the brooder.

The heatin chamber is preferably arran ed throug out the length of the rear side of t e brooder and is closed at its rear side by the rear vertical wall of the brooder and is preferably closed at its bottom by said floor 2 on which the heater, such as a heat- 7 ing lamp 8, removably rests at one end of the heating chamber:

The brooding a artment or a artments 4,

are arranged besi' e or in front 0 the heating chamber and are separated therefrom by the 'vertical wall 5, extending longitudinally throughout the length of the brooder and formingthe front longitudinal wall of the heating chamber.- At the top, the heatin chamber is closed by the preferably fixe horizontal top wall .6, extendin longitudinally throughout the length of t e brooder,

while the rear vertical lon itudinal wall 7. of the brooder forms the. ongitudinal outer wall of the heating chamber; and extends from the top wall 6, t0 the rear edge of the main floor 2, and the end walls of the brooder A close and form the end walls of the heating chamber.

Various means can be employed to heat the air within the heating chamber for dis.-

' f com tribution to the brooding apartments. For example, I show sheet metal heating flues arranged longitudinally within the heating chamber to receive the heat and products of combustion from the lam Such flues can consist of the'horizonta y elongated main drum or flue 8, extending approximately throughout the length of the heating chamber, and the return flueor drum 9, arranged longitudinally on the main flue 8, approximately throughout the length thereof and at one end opening at 8* into the main flue opposite the lamp receiying end thereof. At one end the-main flue is formed with an opening in its bottom to receive the vertical, usual larfl 3, and through which the products of bustion and heat from the lamp are discharged-vertically into said main flue and against the top wall thereof so that the heat and products of combustion pass throughout the length of the main flue and then u into the return flu'e and throughout the ength thereofand out through the vertical ,dis charge 11, extending. through the top wall of the heating chamberto the exterior thereof,

and extending up from the end of the return flue directly over the lamp so that the direct upwardly flowing heat of the lamp will main-- tain an upward draft thIOUglfSttld discharge and thereby maintain a draft through. said flues. v I

The chimney is preferably vertically movable independently of the lamp so that the chimney can be raisedto permit removal of I .hence usually su port the chimney independently of the amp, as by lever 12, fulcrumedjo the main flue and arranged'at the under side thereof and pivotally joined to the chimney to support the same whenthe lamp is removed and by which the chimney can be raised from the lamp burner.

The heating fines are arranged a distance abovethe floor of the heating chamber and are spaced from the side and top walls thereof to erm t circulation of air in the chamber The heating flues are preferably carried by and comp etely around the heating flues.

secured to the longitudinal rear wall 7, of the brooder, as by supporting brackets 13, se cured to the fines and to the innerface of said wall. I preferably hinge said wall 7, at its up er edge at 7 a to the outer edge of the top wa l 6, to permit outward and upward swing of said wall, thereby carryin the heating flues outwardly and upwardly from the heating chamber and exposing the ends of said flues. The flues are preferably provided with or are closed by removable end caps14, which can be removed when the fines are moved outwardly from the heating chamber as just described, to permit the insertion of a cleaning brush into the flues for removal of soot or other deposits therein.

metal chimney 10, of the removable.

I chamber.

The vertical discharge pipe 11, is preferably removablyfitted into the top of the return flue, to permit removal of said pipe when the flues are to be carried outwardly the wall 7 for cleaning or exammation. The

lamp also is removed before said wall is swung outwardly. Access to the lam is gained through an opening in the rear wa l 7,

inserted and remove normally closed b a suitable movable door 15. .The rear wall 7, is also provided-with fresh air openings 16', and a series of these openings 16, 'are usuallyemployed spaced a distance apart and 0 'enin through which opening said lampcan also be flues so that the fresh air will be heated by the flues before passing from the heating chamber into" the brooding apartment or apartments through heated air escape 'openings 17 in the upper portion of the inner side wall 5, se arating the heating chamberfrom the broo ing chamber.

I usually cm by a series of the openings 17 through Wa 7, arranged throughout the length'of saidwall to distribute-the heated air 'therethrough into the brooding chamber whether said chamber forms a single apartment or is subdivided into a number of apart- 9 5 ments. In the s ecific example illustrated, vI show the broo ing chamber divided into three separate apartments by transverse arallel vertical partitions 18', each extending the full width and heightof the brooding 5 Where thebrooding chamber 1s thus divided into apartments, I preferably rovide one. or more heated air inlets 17,

into the upper portion of the rear or inner end thereof, and these inlets 17, preferably are covered by wire netting 19, or the like, to permit passage of the heated air and yet pre; vent the chicks passing through the openings into the heating chamber. -I also preferably provide means whereby the passage v ,of heated air into any brooding'apartmentcan be separately controlled, independently of the flow of heated air into the remaining apartments. For instance, I show a sliding damper 20, for"each o at the front side of wa 5, and slidable un-' der the turned back ed es of a metal plate 21, secured to said wall, a though I do not wish to limit myself to such specific arrangement.

By means of these slides or dampers 20, any

one or several-of the heated air passages 17, can be closed. I can also provide openings in the partitions 18, for the passage of chicks, from one apartment to the next, and suitable doors, such as slides 22, are provided for The front wall 23 of closing these openings.

the brooder is also provided with openings into the respective brooding apartments for the passage of chicks to and from said apartments and outside runways, and these openand-this opening is' 75 v throughthe b lower portion of the wa l to eliver fresh air into the heating chamber below the heating en1ng17, arranged 5 ings are provided with suitable doors, such as slldes 24 Thebroo'ding chamberis provided with a false or elevated floor25, extending from the .5 wall 5,'to the front wall 23, and throughout the: length of the brooding chamber and apartments formed therein. This brooder chambenfioor 25, is supported on and spaced from the main floor 2, by suitable transverse 1o strips or cleats 26, each strip being usually arrangedabout in the plane of, that is, be-v neath, a partition 18, so that an air space or passage will be provicled'under such brooding apartment. These air spaces ,at their rear 15. ends open beneath the wall 5, into the lower portion of the heating 'chambe-r'below the heating fiues therein.

At its front side, each brooding apartment is provided with a-vertical down draft air flue 27, at its lower end opening into said air space between the'two floors and at its upper end opening into the upper part of the interior of the brooding apartment. flue 27, can be formed by a U-shaped or longitudinally dished length or strip of sheet metal secured vertically along its opposite edges tothe inner surface of the front wall 23, with the upper end of the channelor flue thus formed open near the top of the apartment and the lower end registering with a vertical hole through the floor 25.,

To provide ventilation in the brooding apartments and to carry off vitiated or foul air, I can form holes 28, through the upper partbf the front wall 23, opening into the outer air, and adapted to be closed'and opened by exterior caps, such as 29. I can provide one of these outlets 28, for each brooding apartment, and Within the a artments, I can 10 secure dished pieces of meta 30, to the inner surface of the front wall 23 to form vertical fiues at their upper ends closed within the apartments but discharging through said holes and opening at their-lower ends into 15 the lower portions of the apartments so that the foul air can rise through said flues and pass out through said holes. without creating an injurious draft of cold air in an apartment.

The upward movement of air in the heating chambercreates a rearward draft into said chamber through the air spaces between the double floor and hence draws air from the upper front portions of the brooding apartments throu h down flues 27, into said air 35 spaces, there y maintaining a constant circulation ofheated air through the brooding apartments, and the desired uniform heating, as the heated air from the heating chamber flows into the rear ends of said aparti0 ments through the inlets l7.

If so desired, to cause downward distribution of heated air in the brooding apartments and ,to provide. a rear possibly somewhat warmer inclosure within each brooding i5 apartment, I can arrange a loose flexible curtain.

Each air 34, as shown.

hanging curtain 31, of suitable fabric about midway between the front and rear walls of each brooding apartment, and interposed directly'between the heated air inlets and the down take outlets. These'curta'ins' at their upper edges can be secured to any suitable support arranged along the tops of the brooder apartments and hang almost to the floor 25, causing the heated air in each apartment to flow to the floor to pass under the the curtain and in cool weather or when very The chicks can easily pass under young may find the temperature more comfortable in rear of the curtain than in front thereof, although'by reason of my system for throughout each apartment.

to employment'i-n connection with such depending curtains.

The ppward flow of air in the heating chamber and around the heating flues therein,-

Furthermore, I do not wish to limit myself to the ventilating system disclosed for permitting escape of vitiated air from the brooding.

apartments, nor to the formation of a number of brooding apartments, although my invention is particularly applicable to employment in connection with colohy brooders .80 maintaining heated-air circulation, I find that the. temperature is approximately uniform However, I do not Wish to limit all features of my invention lot employing a number of -,sep.ar ate brooding apartments.

The top wall of the brooding chamber is preferably formed with upwardly swingable hinged covers or doors 32, onefor each brooding apartment, and. each cover can consist of a glazed sash, that is asa'sh with glass panes or panels, to provide for ample light in each'apartment. Where the brooder is to be set up and operated out of doors, that is, not in a chicken house or building, I

preferably provide a removable roof or cap 33 therefor whichremovably rests on and covers the brooder and forms a dead air space above the same see Figs. 4 and 8. The

cap can be removably secured on the brooder.

by suitable means, such as hooks and eyes The specific example of cap shown, comprises a vertical front wall having glass panels or panes inserted therein to permit access of light tothe brooding apartments anda downwardly and .rearwardly inclined top wall or roof extending to the rear edge or portion of the heating chamber of the brooder. This top wall or roof can be provided with hinged doors 35, adapted to swing vertically and permit access to the hinged sashes closing the tops of the brooder i apartments, I can provide a door 35, over each brooder apartment so that when a door 35 is opened, the sash32, below the same of the brooder and along the floor of the building. These runways can be formed by vertically removable partitions 37, spaced the required distance apart and from the end walls of the building and fitting at their ends between vertical sockets formed by cleats 38, secured at the front wall of the brooder and at the inner side of the front wall of the building.

Openings can be provided through the front wall of the building into each runway, and through which the chicks can pass to v runways at the exterior of the building.

- hin Vertically movable drop doors or. slides 39, can be provided for closing said openings. Cords 40, can be provided for controlling these slides. These cords are shown running through supports 41, within the building by which they are carried to the rear wall of the building within easy reach of the operator in the depressed aisle or passage 1,

so that the operator standing in said depressed passage can operate said cords to raise or lower any slide.

I preferably provide means, for covering the runways within the building to prevent the chicks jumping over the partitions 37. For instance, I show screen or netting covered frames 42, normally arranged in hori-' zontal positions over and covering the runways, one screen for each runway. I usually ge these screens at their rear ends, at 43,-

to the top of the brooder so that the screens will extend to the front wall of the building and rest on the upper edges of the removable partitions 37. By thus 'hinging the screens,

they can be swung to the vertical position'to uncover the runways and form a partition the length of the building and prevent the chicks jumping on or passing rearwardly over the brooder. The screens can be held in the vertical position by swinging depending latches or stops 44, hinged to and de pending from the top or root of'the building about as shown If so desired, cords 45, can be provided to raise the cover screens 42,, the same as the cords 40, are arranged to raise the dropv doors 39. -The cords can extend from the rear wall of the brooder housing, inclosure.or

building, accessible fromthe depressed passage, through eyes or other suitable sup-- ports to the free ends of the cover screens.

. It is evident that various changes and modifications might be resorted to, that elements might be omitted and features and structures added, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact constructions shown but consider myself entitled to all such changes as fall within the spirit and scope ofmy invention.

What I claim is 1. In combinatio'n,-in a brooder housing having a floor, a brooder arrangedin said housing along the floor thereof and formed with brooder apartments, each having an outlet opening forthe passage of chicks, runways formed along said floor, one for each brooder apartment, removable partitions be- I tween said runways, and movable screens.

covering said runways.

2. In a brooder housing having a floor, a brooder arranged horizontally 'therem, a

chick runway arranged along said floor, a

vertically swinging screen adapted to cover the runway, and means for holding the from the runway.

3-. In a brooder housing having vertical inclosing walls and a floor formed with a depressed passage way, a brooder arranged on said floor in front of said passage way and.

closely adjacent thereto, partitions between the front of the brooder and the front wall of said housing forming separated chick runways, removable means to cover said runways, said front wall of the housing having chick assage openings into said runways, doors orclosing said passage openings, and means for controlling said doors extending to to. and accessible from said depressed passage Wit a 4 Z A brooder having a longitudinal heating chamber and means for heating the same, a brooding chamber beside said heating chamber, series of partitions subdividing the brooding chamber and having openings therethrough and means for closing the same, means for su plying heated air from said heating cham er into said sub divisions,.re

screen in a vertical position when swung up and manually operated from points adjacent movable partitions at the exterior of the brooding chamber and forming series of runways, each brooding chamber ha ing a passage way to a runway and means for closing the same, and vertically swingable cover screens for said runways, substantially as described.

5. In a brooder housing having a floor and vertical inclosing walls and a passage Way spaced fromthe front wall of said housing, a brooder arranged between said passage way and front wall-and having'a heating chamber runways, and ifting' cords for said cover.

screens extendirig to points accessible from the brooder and at one side 0 said passage wa 6. A brooder l iaving a; brooder chamber, a heating chamber arranged lon itudinally of l the brooder chamber and communicating therewith to suppl heated air thereto,heating flues in ClOSB longitudinally Within said. heating chamber, said fines being rovided with removable end caps, said rooder having a movable wall, said flues being secured to and movable with said wall, whereby said caps can be exposed and removed to ermit cleaning the flues by'moving said wa to carry the flues from the heating chamber.

v .7. A brooder. having a brooder chamber arranged longitudinally thereof, a heating f an chamber arranged lon itudinally thereo communicating with t e brooder chamber'to supply heated air thereto, a wall of said brooder being provided with fresh air inlets into said heating chamber, heating flues in said heating chamber, and a return draft flue from the brooder chamber to the heating chamber and opening into the upper portion of the brooder chamber and into the lower portion of the heating chamber below the- 1 means and communicating withand supply? ing heated-airto the brooder chamber, said brooder provided with a. return air passage receiving air from the upper. portion of: the brooder chamber and returning the same to the lower portion of the heating chamber.

9. A brooder having a brooder chamber, a heating chamber provided-with air heating means and communicating with and ada ted to deliver heated air into the brooder chamber and provided with afresh air'inlet, said brooder chamber provided with a vitiated air outlet from its lower portion, and an airreturn flue from the upperportion of the brooder chamber to the heatin chamber.

10. A brooder provided witli'means for heating air and delivering the same into the upper portion of the brooder chamber, said brooder chamber having a heated air-outlet from its upper ortion, and a flexible curtain ing 0 'theflue, means for of t ings to and discharging into said heatingj Witnesses:

with means for delivering heated air from the heatin chamber into the brooder chamber,

and a own draft flue from the brooder cham ber discharging into said airspace. 1'

12. A brooder comprising an incloshihaving a longitudinal horizontal heating, cham,

her, a brooder chamber, arran ed'beside the heating chamber and supplie with' heated air therefrom, a. lon 'tudmal vertical side wall -of said heating 0 amber being movable to open th'e'hea-ting chamber approximately throughout its length, a horizontally 'dis-' posed heating flue arranged longitudinally within thev heating chamber and spaced from w the walls thereof to provide air spaces-around thesame,-means securing-said flue to said movable side wall,. and a heating burner within-said heating chamber to heat said fine,

"13. Afbrooder comprising side,'end, top V and bottom walls and having a brooder chamber and a longitudinal heating chamber therein and entirely inclosed by'said walls,

a longitudinal partition'separating the heatamber from the brooderchamber and having openingsfor the passage of heated air from the heating chamberto the broodx ing chamber, a horizontal heating. flue are ranged longitudinally inand entirely inclosed by the walls of the heatingv chamber, means securing said flue in' and s aced from the walls of said heating chain er, and a heating la It arranged within said heatin chamber for oo '14. A brooder havinga brooder chamber 5 and a heatingchamber arranged horizontally? beside the same, a longitudinal-partition separating the heating chamber from the brooder" chamber and havin series of openings therethrough to admit heated air tojthe brooder chamber, a heating flue in the heating chamber separated from the walls of the heating chamber to provide air s aces around eati the no, a return air'plassage bein provide from the ortion e brooder c amber opposite sai openchamber.

15;, -A brooder having an inclosed brooder In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,-

in presence of two witnesses.

VIBGIL c. KOONS.

A. A. WALLING, JOHN MoFrETr.

115 chamber having a floor, and a heating cham- 

